WASHINGTON — The Metro Transit Police Department is investigating after two people were stabbed on a platform at Metro Center Tuesday afternoon.
According to a spokesperson for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the attack happened just after 3:15 p.m. at the transfer station on 13th Street in Northwest.
When officers arrived they found the two victims, only identified as a man and a woman, injured on the red line platform.
The man was unconscious and not breathing, he was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, WMATA explained. The woman is expected to survive her injuries but was also taken to a hospital for treatment.
There is no word on suspect information at this time. Police have not said what they believe may have led up to the stabbings.
Red line trains were forced to single track between Judiciary Square and Farragut North while officials investigated the stabbing. Trains are now operating in both directions. However, Glenmont-bound trains were bypassing Metro Center while officials continue to search for answers. All trains are now back in service.
Several Metro riders told us they were concerned about their safety on the trains. Stats may show why. As more people return to Metro, calls for help are up compared to last year, when ridership was down.
According to Metro's crime stats, aggravated assaults are outpacing pre-pandemic levels.
WMATA's new CEO Randy Clarke told WUSA9 earlier this month the agency is trying to fill a shortage of police officers and considering other staffing changes at stations, along with more video surveillance.
He also said he's counting on more riders to make the system safer.
"When there's no one at a park, the park kind of gets run down and is kind of seedy. When a park is vibrant and active throughout all hours of the day, most people will go, 'That's a great park,'" Clarke said. "Same thing on Metro. The more people that are actually in the system, the system ends up being safer."